News 17:00

BULLETIN 8 October 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Umalusi puts tight security in place ahead of the National Senior Certificate
# Afrika Mayibuye says Eskom’s recovery must reach every community
# And: The Jerusalem consulate becomes the UK mission as diplomats leave

# Umalusi CEO Mafu Rakometsi says lessons from last year’s question paper leak has led to tighter security protocols. Officials involved in examinations must declare whether close relatives are writing exams and undergo vetting. Rakometsi says question papers stored on computers must be removed daily and secured by designated officials. He says camera surveillance will help identify where and when leaks occur:

# The Afrika Mayibuye Movement says Eskom’s improved generation performance and the sustained absence of load shedding are positive developments, but electricity recovery must reach every community. South Africa has surpassed 500 consecutive days without load shedding as part of Eskom’s ongoing operational and financial recovery. The movement’s spokesperson, Sydney Baloyi, says households and businesses still face load reductions, distribution failures and damaged electricity infrastructure:

# Western Cape Police Commissioner Sizakhele Dyantyi has urged victims of domestic violence to come forward and speak out so that perpetrators can be prosecuted. The call comes after the provincial High Court sentenced Duncan Hoorn to life imprisonment for kidnapping, murder and defeating the ends of justice. He was found guilty of killing his wife, Chantal Pasquali. Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg says the victim was assaulted and subsequently died in hospital due to the injuries she sustained during a domestic dispute with the accused:

# Britain’s Consulate General in East Jerusalem is being renamed the UK Mission, Jerusalem, after Israel ordered it to close. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband says the building will remain open and continue providing vital services and working with Palestinians. However, 20 British diplomats, including the consul general, will leave Israel, while seven diplomats will remain at the mission under a more limited arrangement. The dispute follows Britain’s decision to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Britain says it will not take reciprocal action against Israeli diplomats.

# Cricket: Australia’s head coach, Andrew McDonald, expects a powerful attack from the Proteas when the first Test starts in Durban tomorrow. South Africa will be without several first-choice bowlers, but McDonald believes the hosts have enough depth to put them under pressure. He also expressed confidence in Australia’s firepower to ensure the three-match series between the top-two teams in the world rankings will be a tight contest. The series is part of the World Test Championship’s 2025 to 2027 cycle after the Proteas won the previous one.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-66-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-291-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-120-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 107-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….